In the year of the triumph of science fiction in the entertainment media, from cinema with ‘Dune’ to TV series with ‘Foundation’, the video game could not be missing, with a milestone in the history of gaming: Metroid, saga started by Nintendo in 1986 and which today arrives on Switch consoles with the last episode in 2.5 D, ‘Metroid Dread‘. This is the direct sequel to ‘Metroid Fusion’, released in 2002, and is the title that concludes the five-part saga dedicated to the mysterious interconnected fate of bounty hunter Samus Aran and the Metroids, which began with the very first Metroid for Nes 35 years ago.
To understand the impact of Metroid in the history of gaming, it is sufficient to think that the Nintendo title has given way to a genre, that of ‘metroidvania‘, video games characterized by a strong component of exploration in search of enhancements that allow access to initially inaccessible areas, often retracing their steps.
Metroid has always been characterized by all the typical elements of the sci-fi imaginary and has often winked at various cinematographic exponents of the genre. Particularly, the saga has a special relationship with Alien, Ridley Scott’s cult film, which was a huge source of inspiration in terms of settings and atmospheres according to Metroid’s own Game Director, Yoshio Sakamoto. Then there is the archenemy of the protagonist Samus Aran, a space creature named Ridley, clear homage to the British director.
In this latest chapter, Samus lands alone on a mysterious alien planet and is hunted by a dangerous new mechanical threat, the Emmi robots. As they unlock new abilities, players will be able to return to areas they have already visited and discover new locations and upgrades. hidden, in classic Metroid style.
‘Metroid Dread’ is an exclusive title for the Nintendo Switch, and comes out in conjunction with the latest model of the console, with OLED screen. It is also available from today also a special edition which includes the board game, a SteelBook case, a 190-page Metroid 2D series artbook, and five cards featuring the cover illustrations of the five games in the saga. Starting November 5, it will also be possible to find a set consisting of two amiibo figurines: Samus with his Metroid Dread suit and the Emmi